The New Year’s Day meeting at Cheltenham has become increasingly popular over the years with the good weather last year seeing a massive crowd and the current forecast is for a dry day with rain only in the evening. This raceday has a completely different atmosphere to any other meeting at Cheltenham and is very much a family occasion, with the ever-popular family fun zone.

The feature race is the Relkeel Hurdle Grade 2 won in 2023 by Marie’s Rock for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson and this popular mare is running again. The main challenge is from Ireland with Bob Olinger trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore. Bob Olinger won the Ballymore Hurdle in 2021 and was a fortunate winner of the 2022 Turners Novices’ Chase after the fall of Galopin Des Champs at the last when going easily. Though Bob Olinger has had various niggles since that success, he is a fascinating challenger here, who just won last time out over hurdles when beating Zanahiyr in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November.

Enjoy whether at Cheltenham or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Happy New Year.

The Wine Tipster.

12.55 Cheltenham – Close Brothers Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m ½f)

Libberty Hunter fell on chasing debut at Chepstow at the third last when pressing the eventual winner Mr Grey Sky after looking like he had a good chance of victory. Libberty Hunter then headed to Wincanton when apart from one mistake he travelled and jumped well to easily beat Filanderer by five lengths. The handicapper raised him from a mark of 122 to 132 for that victory and you can see this exciting prospect taking to Cheltenham.

Unibet 7/2 win

1.30 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (3m 1½f)

Angels Breath (nap) is stepping up to this trip for this first time on what is only this ten-year old’s eleventh career start. Back in 2019 he was beating the likes of First Flow, then winning a Grade 2 at Ascot before being off the course for 1121 days ahead of returning to action for Sam Thomas in January of this year. He has had four starts since then including finishing second at Chepstow and at Cheltenham’s October meeting. In November, Angels Breath ran in the competitive Handicap Chase over 2m 4f at Cheltenham when everything looked too quick in the country and he finished seventh to the very smart Stage Star in a deep renewal.

This step up in distance is an interesting move by trainer Sam Thomas, who knows how to place horses after a break. There is no doubt that Angels Breath still retains his enthusiasm for racing and this lightly raced type has the class too.

Unibet 9/2 win

2.05 Cheltenham – New Year’s Day Handicap Chase (2m 4½f)

Frero Banbou can take on the favourite Stage Star, who is a class act, of that there’s no doubt, but winning handicaps off marks north of 160 is a rarity these days and in possibly the deepest ground he’ll have come across to date, he’ll have to be right on his A-game to win off 12st here.

Frero Banbou’s form figures these season are 323, with the most striking his excellent third on his latest start in a very competitive renewal of the December Gold Cup at the last meeting at Cheltenham. They went a tremendous gallop with Frero Banbou and Il Ridotto at the front end well ahead of the rest of the field, with the selection only dropping back from the second last. Frero Banbou carries 10-2 here and his mark of 140 is very workable. He acts well on heavy ground and can gain reward for a series of consistent efforts in big handicaps this season.

Unibet 15/2 each way

2.40 Cheltenham – Handicap Hurdle (3m)

Ikarak is looking for a three-timer following wins at Worcester and Newcastle on good to soft and heavy respectively. This is his sixth start since coming over from France and he hasn’t been out of the first two in all those races. The favourite Ed Keeper Unibet 5/2 is heavily fancied and Ikarak is the one to reward each way players.

Unibet 11/1 each way

3.15 Cheltenham – Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle Grade 2 (2m 4½f) 

Marie’s Rock can follow up on last year’s success when she beat Dashel Drasher by six lengths in good style on soft going with a career best effort. She then didn’t perform at the Cheltenham Festival when seventh to the brilliant Honeysuckle, the other joint favourite. At Aintree she was cruising approaching the last only to be outstayed by the remarkable Sire Du Berlais in the Liverpool Hurdle.

On seasonal debut in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury she couldn’t match the first two Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park, who both ran well at the Long Walk Hurdle. Rewatching the Long Distance Hurdle the run by Marie’s Rock wasn’t as disappointing as some felt at the time and she will come on plenty for that appearance. On overall form and with her 7lb mares’ allowance she can win here for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson beating her main challenger Bob Olinger.

Unibet 9/4 win